A Dothan motorcycle club has kept its license – at least for now – after the Dothan City Commission split on a vote to revoke the document Tuesday.
With District 1 Commissioner Kevin Dorsey absent, commissioners tied 3-3 on the request to rescind Chaotic Few Motorcycle Club’s business license. The request came after city officials noted business owner Alan Estes had obtained the license under the pretense of operating a facility there as a motorcycle repair shop.
Garry Shirah, who oversees the business license department, testified that Estes inquired about a business license to run a motorcycle club in December. The location he wanted to operate the club, 3511 Napier Field Road, is located in a light industrial (L-I) district – where clubs are not permitted to operate.
Shirah said the department informed him of the issues, and Estes returned shortly thereafter with a request to operate a motorcycle repair shop – an allowable usage in the L-I district. The city granted Estes the license at that point.
Recently the city hired Avenu Analytics to conduct an audit of business licenses city officials have issued, and Estes informed the auditor he was in fact operating a motorcycle club at the address, Shirah said. His department initiated the revocation process based on the information provided and “falsified” documents.
Greg Drescher, a club member, spoke in defense of the organization. He informed the commission that the club meets on Friday and Saturday nights to work on motorcycles, drink beer and grill things like chicken.
Drescher said the club has had no incidents that required police response, and the club maintains the property and yards well. He said a nearby church has expressed no issues with their presence.
“They say we’ve been the best neighbors,” Drescher said. “We’re hardly ever there, and they’re not there when we are.”
District 5 Commissioner Beth Kenward said she understands Estes, who Drescher said missed the meeting due to work commitments in North Carolina, tried to circumvent the system but added, “we forced his hands.”
Kenward said since the business had not caused any issues, she would be reluctant to revoke the license. Shirah said the department had received several anonymous complaints about the club, but Kenward said anonymous complaints could not factor in her decision.
District 4 Commissioner John Ferguson asked Shirah if the business had to run for-profit since the club members were effectively repairing motorcycles at the clubhouse. Shirah said Estes could choose to operate as a nonprofit with a business license.
District 6 Commissioner David Crutchfield agreed with Shirah that Estes had falsified documents to obtain a license, while both Kenward and Ferguson expressed that “falsified” was too strong of a term for Estes’ actions.
Crutchfield, District 2 Commissioner Janasky Fleming and District 3 Commissioner Albert Kirkland voted for the revocation, while Kenward, Ferguson and Mayor Mark Saliba dissented. The tie vote killed the measure, meaning Chaotic Few retains its license.
The business license department has the option of approaching the commission with the revocation request again at a future meeting. Some commissioners, like Fleming, expressed interest in conducting a revocation hearing when Estes could attend.
https://www.dothaneagle.com/news/government/dothan-motorcycle-club-keeps-license-after-dothan-city-commission-splits/article_4999b924-a582-11e8-931a-a3074c30aa84.html
With District 1 Commissioner Kevin Dorsey absent, commissioners tied 3-3 on the request to rescind Chaotic Few Motorcycle Club’s business license. The request came after city officials noted business owner Alan Estes had obtained the license under the pretense of operating a facility there as a motorcycle repair shop.
Garry Shirah, who oversees the business license department, testified that Estes inquired about a business license to run a motorcycle club in December. The location he wanted to operate the club, 3511 Napier Field Road, is located in a light industrial (L-I) district – where clubs are not permitted to operate.
Shirah said the department informed him of the issues, and Estes returned shortly thereafter with a request to operate a motorcycle repair shop – an allowable usage in the L-I district. The city granted Estes the license at that point.
Recently the city hired Avenu Analytics to conduct an audit of business licenses city officials have issued, and Estes informed the auditor he was in fact operating a motorcycle club at the address, Shirah said. His department initiated the revocation process based on the information provided and “falsified” documents.
Greg Drescher, a club member, spoke in defense of the organization. He informed the commission that the club meets on Friday and Saturday nights to work on motorcycles, drink beer and grill things like chicken.
Drescher said the club has had no incidents that required police response, and the club maintains the property and yards well. He said a nearby church has expressed no issues with their presence.
“They say we’ve been the best neighbors,” Drescher said. “We’re hardly ever there, and they’re not there when we are.”
District 5 Commissioner Beth Kenward said she understands Estes, who Drescher said missed the meeting due to work commitments in North Carolina, tried to circumvent the system but added, “we forced his hands.”
Kenward said since the business had not caused any issues, she would be reluctant to revoke the license. Shirah said the department had received several anonymous complaints about the club, but Kenward said anonymous complaints could not factor in her decision.
District 4 Commissioner John Ferguson asked Shirah if the business had to run for-profit since the club members were effectively repairing motorcycles at the clubhouse. Shirah said Estes could choose to operate as a nonprofit with a business license.
District 6 Commissioner David Crutchfield agreed with Shirah that Estes had falsified documents to obtain a license, while both Kenward and Ferguson expressed that “falsified” was too strong of a term for Estes’ actions.
Crutchfield, District 2 Commissioner Janasky Fleming and District 3 Commissioner Albert Kirkland voted for the revocation, while Kenward, Ferguson and Mayor Mark Saliba dissented. The tie vote killed the measure, meaning Chaotic Few retains its license.
The business license department has the option of approaching the commission with the revocation request again at a future meeting. Some commissioners, like Fleming, expressed interest in conducting a revocation hearing when Estes could attend.
https://www.dothaneagle.com/news/government/dothan-motorcycle-club-keeps-license-after-dothan-city-commission-splits/article_4999b924-a582-11e8-931a-a3074c30aa84.html